Nigel Farage purchased a £1.4 million property in cash shortly after receiving a £5 million personal gift from billionaire businessman Christopher Harborne, according to property records seen by Sky News.
The purchase of the property was completed in May 2024, just weeks before Farage dramatically reversed his decision not to stand in the general election.
The revelation comes as the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner prepares to launch an inquiry into whether Farage breached Commons rules by allegedly failing to declare the £5 million gift.
The payment was first revealed by The Guardian, which reported that Harborne, a Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor and Reform UK’s largest financial backer, transferred the money to Farage before the 2024 election campaign.
Under House of Commons rules, MPs are required to register financial interests and benefits received in the 12 months before their election if they could reasonably be linked to their political or parliamentary activities.
The Electoral Commission is also understood to be considering whether to investigate the payment.
Reform UK has denied any wrongdoing and insists the money was a “personal unconditional gift” unrelated to politics.
A spokesperson for the party said the process of purchasing the property had already begun before the gift was received.
“The relevant chronology is straightforward. The offer and purchase process for the property commenced before the gift,” the spokesperson said.
“Mr Farage had already passed proof of funds and the relevant checks before receiving the gift. The purchase was therefore already proceeding independently of it.”
Farage has previously defended accepting the money, claiming it was needed to fund his personal security.
“I’ve been the most attacked, physically, politician of modern times and yet despite repeated requests to the Home Office and the police for protection and help, I’ve been denied at every twist and turn,” he said previously.
“This money is the only way I can look after myself and protect myself for the rest of my life.”
Harborne later donated a separate £9 million to Reform UK in August 2025, the largest single donation made to a UK political party by a living individual.
A Reform UK spokesperson also confirmed Farage’s office is currently in contact with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
“We look forward to this being put to bed once and for all,” the spokesperson added.
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